What you should take for a stomach ache depends on what’s causing it. A burning feeling after eating calls for something different than bloating, nausea, or diarrhea. Most stomach aches respond well to over-the-counter options, simple dietary changes, or both.
For Heartburn and Acid-Related Pain
If your stomach ache feels like burning in your upper abdomen or chest, especially after meals, excess stomach acid is the likely culprit. Antacids are the fastest fix. They neutralize acid on contact and provide relief within minutes, though the effect wears off relatively quickly.
H2 blockers (sold as Pepcid and Tagamet) work differently. They reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces in the first place and kick in within one to three hours, with relief lasting about eight hours. If you know a meal is going to bother you, taking an H2 blocker 30 to 60 minutes beforehand can head off the problem.
For persistent heartburn that keeps coming back over several days, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs, sold as Prilosec and Nexium) offer the strongest acid suppression. They reduce stomach acid for 15 to 21 hours a day, far longer than H2 blockers. The trade-off is speed: PPIs can take up to four days to reach full effect. Take them 30 to 60 minutes before a meal for best results. They’re designed for short courses of use, not indefinite daily use.
For Gas and Bloating
When your stomach ache comes with pressure, fullness, or visible bloating, trapped gas is often the problem. Simethicone (sold as Gas-X and Mylicon) helps gas bubbles in your gut combine into larger bubbles that are easier to pass. Adults can take 60 to 125 mg up to four times a day, after meals and at bedtime, with a maximum of 500 mg in 24 hours. It works quickly and has very few side effects since your body doesn’t actually absorb it.
For Nausea and General Upset
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is a versatile option for the kind of stomach ache that comes with nausea, queasiness, or a general “off” feeling. It coats the stomach lining and reduces inflammation. It also works for diarrhea and mild heartburn, making it a reasonable first choice when you’re not sure exactly what’s wrong.
One important caution: bismuth subsalicylate is related to aspirin. Don’t take it if you’re allergic to aspirin or NSAIDs like ibuprofen, and never give it to children or teenagers who have, or are recovering from, a viral illness like the flu or chickenpox. The combination raises the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition.
For Diarrhea-Related Pain
Stomach cramps paired with loose stools usually improve once the diarrhea is under control. Loperamide (Imodium) is the most effective over-the-counter option here. In a head-to-head comparison with bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide significantly reduced unformed bowel movements, controlled diarrhea for longer after each dose, and was rated better by patients for overall relief within the first 24 hours. Both were well tolerated, but loperamide worked faster and more completely at standard doses.
Loperamide works by slowing movement through your intestines, giving your body more time to absorb water. It’s best for acute, non-specific diarrhea. If your diarrhea is bloody, accompanied by a high fever, or lasts more than two days, skip the loperamide and get medical attention.
Natural Remedies That Work
Peppermint oil has some of the strongest clinical evidence of any natural stomach remedy. In multiple placebo-controlled trials, enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules significantly reduced abdominal pain, bloating, and other digestive symptoms. One study found that patients taking peppermint oil capsules before meals for eight weeks had significantly less abdominal pain and discomfort than those on placebo. Another showed that over 50% of participants experienced at least a 50% reduction in symptoms after four weeks, with benefits persisting even after they stopped taking it. Look for enteric-coated capsules, which dissolve in the intestine rather than the stomach.
Ginger is a widely used home remedy for nausea and mild stomach upset. Ginger tea, ginger chews, or ginger ale made with real ginger can help settle queasiness. Warm liquids in general tend to relax the muscles of the digestive tract, which is why plain warm water or herbal tea often helps mild stomach aches on their own.
What to Eat (and Avoid)
You’ve probably heard of the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. It’s fine for a day or two when you’re dealing with food poisoning, stomach flu, or traveler’s diarrhea. But there’s no need to limit yourself to just those four foods. Brothy soups, oatmeal, boiled potatoes, crackers, and unsweetened dry cereals are equally easy on the stomach and provide more nutritional variety.
Once your stomach starts settling, gradually add cooked squash, carrots, sweet potatoes without skin, avocado, skinless chicken or turkey, fish, and eggs. These foods are nutritious without being hard to digest.
While your stomach is upset, avoid alcohol and caffeine, dairy products, sugary foods, fried foods, acidic foods (citrus, tomato sauce, vinegar-based dressings), spicy foods, and high-fiber foods like leafy greens, popcorn, nuts, seeds, and beans. These can all irritate an already sensitive stomach or speed up digestion in ways that make things worse.
If you’re losing fluids from vomiting or diarrhea, oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte or Oralyte are better choices than sports drinks. Sports drinks don’t have the right balance of sugar and sodium for actual dehydration.
For Children’s Stomach Aches
Children need a more cautious approach. Never give aspirin to a child for any reason, due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Bismuth subsalicylate carries the same risk and should also be avoided in children and teens recovering from viral infections. If your child is taking ibuprofen or naproxen for pain and develops stomach upset or becomes dehydrated, that combination needs medical guidance.
For most childhood stomach aches, small sips of clear fluids, rest, and bland foods are the safest starting point. Simethicone is available in pediatric formulations for gas, but dosing should be determined by a pediatrician.
Signs of Something More Serious
Most stomach aches resolve on their own or with the remedies above. But certain symptoms signal that something more urgent is going on. Get emergency care if your stomach pain comes with vomiting blood, black or bloody stool, blood in your urine, chest or shoulder pain, shortness of breath or dizziness, a swollen and tender abdomen, high fever, or persistent vomiting that won’t stop. Stomach pain following an accident or injury also warrants immediate attention.